Recently released from the makers of the hoverboard, the Swagtron, comes the Swagboard
, an electric skateboard aimed at younger riders. It comes in at over $100 cheaper than similar electric skateboards but does it hold up to the hype? We tested out the board so you don’t have to. See our full swagboard review below.
| Product | Our Conclusions | More Information |
|---|---|---|
Swagboard | The Swagboard is great option for kids or lighter riders who want a bare bones electric skateboard without spending $1000. | Check Price Now! |
First let’s get into the actual deck. The Swagboard measures 32 inches long making this a short cruising electric skateboard similar to the Yuneec E-Go 2
. The deck is made out of 7 ply Canadian maple wood and comes with griptape pre-applied.
The actual shape of the deck provides riders with small wheel cutouts allowing you to carve easily. The main part of the deck widens to provide riders with a wide and stable foot platform during acceleration and braking.
Because of the short length and lower ply maple, the deck actually has a little bit of flex underneath your feet. On a scale, it is nowhere a board such as Evolve might give you, but it slightly flexes underneath you as you ride.
One interesting fact about the board is that it can only hold riders up 175 lbs. This appears to be due to the cutouts it has on the deck of the board to make carrying easy and the low thickness of the deck. Heavier riders who are looking for a cheap electric skateboard, I would suggest the Yuneec E-Go 2
.
With the battery, electronics, motor, and longboard hardware, this electric skateboard weighs 10 lbs. To make it easier to carry and lighter, there are cutouts on the side of the board giving you an easy handhold when carrying it.
The battery is contained under the deck in a slim and form fitting case. The battery case is actually interesting in that it was specially designed by Swagway to be fireproof and contain any issues that the battery might have.
If you remember the big backlash against hoverboards when they first started overheating or the more recent Samsung Galaxy fiasco, lithium ion batteries can be unstable at times. Coincidentally, that’s also why large lithium ion batteries are not allowed on airplanes. The only electric skateboards that are allowed on flights have to have a less than a 100Wh battery. Watt-hours = Volts * Amp-hours. The more you know!
The 24V lithium-ion battery powers the hub motor. As compared to the Yuneec E Go 2 which has an external motor, the Swagboard has an inhub motor which directly powers the wheel. The advantage of this is that there is no drivetrain between an external motor and the wheel axle which introduces another failure mode. Hub motors are simpler and one of the better motors to use on electric skateboards.
The controller connects to the board wirelessly and has a throttle that you can control with your thumb to adjust the speed. Through personal experience, the Swagboard pretty much only has one speed: on and off. Honestly, it did not bother me that much during my riding because 11 mph was fast enough for me, but to others, it might.
It’s important to note that this electric skateboard isn’t a speed demon and it won’t be winning any range contests. It’s just an option for those people or kids on a budget that want a moving skateboard without paying over $500.
If you evaluate the board as it is, it is a pretty fair product. One feature that I really liked was the automatic 1-year warranty that comes with the board. Some customers have experienced quality control issues and in every instance, a representative from Swagtron (the parent company) has promptly offered a full board or a refund.
